Mother sentenced to 13 years after baby dies in Oven

A Missouri woman has been sentenced to 13 years in prison after pleading guilty to a charge arising from the death of her one-month-old daughter, who was found severely burned inside an oven.

Mariah Thomas, 28, of Kansas City, Missouri, pleaded guilty to first-degree endangering the welfare of a child resulting in death in Jackson County. Under a plea agreement, prosecutors dropped an earlier first-degree murder charge.

Jackson County Circuit Court Judge Sarah A. Castle sentenced Thomas to 13 years with the Missouri Department of Corrections. She will receive credit for time already served and is not eligible for probation.

How the tragedy unfolded

The case dates to February 9, 2024, when Kansas City police responded to a residence following a report that an infant was not breathing.

Officers found the one-month-old girl, identified as Za’riah Thomas, suffering from severe burns. Fire department personnel pronounced the infant dead at the scene.

Investigators said Thomas had been attempting to put her daughter down for a nap when she mistakenly placed the baby inside an oven instead of the child’s crib.

According to information contained in court records, a family member told investigators that Thomas later said she believed she had placed the infant in her crib and had accidentally put her in the oven.

The investigation also found that the baby was wearing a bodysuit and diaper when she was discovered. Police reported that the clothing appeared to have melted onto the diaper.

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A baby blanket recovered from the living room was also found to have significant burn damage.

Investigation and charges

Thomas initially declined to speak with detectives after being advised of her rights. She later agreed to provide a blood sample and allowed investigators to access information from her cellphone.

Prosecutors initially charged her with first-degree endangering the welfare of a child resulting in death before adding a first-degree murder charge.

The murder charge was ultimately dismissed as part of the plea agreement under which Thomas admitted guilt to the child-endangerment offence.

Court records state that Thomas entered the plea voluntarily and understood the charge and possible consequences. The judgment also indicates that she did not raise a mental disease or defect defence.

Following the sentencing, Thomas was returned to the custody of the Jackson County Sheriff pending her transfer to state prison.

The court ordered her to pay $68 to Missouri’s Crime Victims’ Compensation Fund, while other court costs were waived.

The case illustrates the distinction between the original murder allegation and the offence for which Thomas was ultimately convicted: the murder charge was dismissed under the negotiated plea, while the 13-year sentence resulted from her guilty plea to first-degree endangering the welfare of a child resulting in death.